Keep saving as much as you possibly can while repairing your credit score. Beyond a bank account, I cant tell you where to put it because I have very little experience with stocks/bonds/gold/silver etc.
You will want your credit score to be as good as possible so you can obtain the best mortgage rates from the most favourable lenders. Then, once you have the cash for a down payment, a healthy cash reserve for unseen expenses and/or loss of income, purchase a principal residence, maybe a duplex where you will live in one half, and rent the other half out. You will be surprised how well you can build a nest egg over many years of diligent saving and investing. But be very cautious of over leveraging.
And while you are saving/repairing your credit, like Thomas said... read, read, read. Lots on this forum, and many good books on Real estate investing at your local library. Just know that much of it will be American content, and not necessarily worthwhile to Canadians.
I hope this helps, and good luck to you!
Jon